Raynald Arseneault

Who is Raynald Arseneault?

Raynald Arseneault was a Canadian composer and organist. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre, his compositional output consists of more than 50 works. His style was particularly influenced by Ivan Wyschnegradsky and Giacinto Scelsi; both of whom he met with in Europe during the 1970s. He served for many years as the organist and director of sacred music at Saint-Marc Church in Rosemont.

Born in Quebec City, Arseneault studied with Françoise Aubut and Gilles Tremblay at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal where he graduated with a premier prix in composition in 1973. That same year he won the Prix d’Europe which enabled him to pursue studies in France. He remained for eight years in that country where he studied composition with Tony Aubin, Claude Lefebvre, Claude Ballif, Ivo Malec and Michel Philippot.